Convict Wanted for 1981 Murder in Pennsylvania Discovered as Texas Church Leader

23 Apr 2014

Joseph Lewis Miller, an ex-convict wanted in Pennsylvania for a 1981 murder, was arrested in Texas on April 21. A U.S. Marshal confirmed to Breitbart Texas that the 78-year-old had been living under the name Roy Eubanks and serving as a church deacon in Mineola, Texas for many years.

In 1981, Miller was reportedly charged with shooting Thomas Waller in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. More specifically, he was charged with murder, committing a crime with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying a firearm without a license, according to a report by KLTV.

Prior to the 1981 charges, Miller was on lifetime parole for a separate murder. In 1959, he was convicted for killing John H. Lumpkins with a 12-gauge shotgun. Although he was sentenced to life in prison for that crime, according to KLTV he served only 11 years and was subsequently released.

Local reports state that officers tracked Miller down in Mineola by using old photographs. They eventually arrested him outside of his home, where he allegedly admitted to U.S. Marshals that his name is actually Joseph Miller, not Roy Eubanks.

Miller is currently being held at the Wood County Jail. County Records state that he is being held on two charges, both of which stem from Pennsylvania– parole violation and homicide.

Local reports claim that Miller was married for four years before his arrest on Monday. His wife told KLTV that she had no knowledge of the charges pending against her husband. She said Miller had lots of friends in their community and was generally well-liked.

Authorities told local media outlets that Miller had been collecting Social Security payments under his fake name for more than 20 years.

U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane told Breitbart Texas, “The individual assumed someone’s identity. So, he took that person’s date-of-birth and Social Security number. He then used that identity to get a driver’s license and also collect Social Security.”

Pane said that Miller could be brought back to Pennsylvania soon, or the process could be delayed.

“Miller can either accept extradition back to Pennsylvania, or he can contest it and that could take up to a couple of months to get resolved,” Pane said.

Pane asserted that Miller’s arrest demonstrates the effectiveness of U.S. Marshals. He said in a statement, “The murder occurred more than three decades ago, and while this case presented us with a significant challenge it also exemplifies the dedication, thoroughness and diligence the fugitive task force has toward cold cases. I am proud of the hard work they displayed.”

“We arrest more fugitives than all other federal agencies combined. We’ve been doing this for 225 years,” Pane told Breitbart Texas. “This case was brought to us within the last month. So you can see the results of examining a case within just one month.”